Midwest Regional
Overview
Kansas is the clear favorite, as they were the pre-season number one, and held
the top spot for most of the season, entering the tournament as the number
one overall. In the first two rounds Gonzaga could be a little pesky, but they
likely won't be able to throw much of a scare into the Jayhawks when the meet in
the second round. Michigan State made a nice run to the title game last year,
but has underachieved most of the season still they are a dangerous #5 seed. Maryland
also is a solid team helping to make the Midwest Region perhaps the deepest
in terms of talent, as their second round match up against Michigan State
could be one of the most thrilling games of the entire Tournament. Tennessee is
also a dangerous team holding the sixth seed, as they beat both Kansas and Kentucky,
but they may not have enough weapons to make a deep run. The #3 seed Georgetown
appears to be just hitting their stride and they have the look of a team
that could make a long run. The second seed Ohio State could have easily been
a top seed in another region, as they look good to reach the Sweet 16 after dispatching
UCSB and Oklahoma State.

Regionals @ St. Louis, MO
Kansas, Ohio State, Georgetown, Maryland
Kansas will be the favorite in
the regionals and will be in for a fight, as this is the best of the four regions,
meaning if the Jayhawks do advance they will have certainly earned it. Georgetown
who played in the brutal Big East are a good bet to reach the Elite Eight
as they are slightly stronger than the Buckeyes. However, in the end Kansas
is the favorite for a reason, they have the deepest most talented team led by
Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich who both have championship experience.

West Regional
Overview
Syracuse earned their first top seed in 30 years, but they will have to travel
a long road to get to Indianapolis in the West Regional. While the early rounds
are in Buffalo and should provide a good homecourt for the Orange, to get
to the Final Four they will need to go through Salt Lake City. After dipatching
Vermont the Orange could have a tough time in the second round against Gonzaga,
but in the end it would be an unlikely upset for the Zags. Butler of the Horizon
League has always been a pesky mid major underdog, and now with a #5 seed they
have become the favorites, in the first round at least. The Bulldogs do have
the longest current winning streak at 20 games and could be threat to reach the
Elite Eight, of course they will have to survive a tough second round showdown
against a solid team from Vanderbilt. Pittsburgh is another strong Big East
team that could make a long run, as their pod sets up in their favor. Look for
Minnesota to stun to Xaiver, as the Gophers are a much more balnced team. Meanwhile
Kansas State could emerge as the team to beat in the West, with one of the
best backcourts in the Nation, as they should waltz past North Texas and BYU,
who will beat Florida in their opener.

Regionals @ Salt Lake City, UT
Syracuse, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Butler
Who will knock out Syracuse?
Like an old Black and White mystery the Butler will do it. The Bulldogs have
strong inside presence and should be able to match up will with the Orange, and
create the same headaches Georgetown gave them in the Big East opener. However,
the dreams of Butler reaching the Final Four will fall just one round short as
Kansas State's backcourt will be the key as the Wildcats reach the Final Four
for another showdown with hated rival Kansas.

East Regional
Overview
Kentucky could be the most talented team in the entire field. However, with
Freshmen John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe leading the way the Wildcats
could be one of those favorites that end up falling when they face a strong
more experienced team. That should not happen in the first two rounds, even though
Texas could be a dangerous opponent in the second round. Temple and Cornell
were both ripped off, the Owls deserved at least a #4 seed and Cornell should
have been at least a #10. Face to face Temple will emerge and will find
themselves in a second round thriller against Wisconsin. However, in the end the
Badgers will emerge victorious as they have the team that commits the fewest
turnovers in the NCAA. Look for a mild upset in the Washington versus Marquette
game, as the Huskies come in with a head of steam, winning the Pac-10 tournament.
However, the Washington run will end in the second round as New Mexico will
leap past Montana, and into the Sweet 16. issouri is another solid Big XII team
that should win a game in the tournament, beating Clemson in the opener, but
the team to beat is West Virginia, who won the Big East Tournament led by big
shot Da'Sean Butler, who will lead the Mountaineers deep into the Big Tournament.

Regionals @ Syracuse, NY
Kentucky, West Virginia, New Mexico, Wisconsin
Kentucky is strong enough
to win the entire tournament, but with three freshmen they could be a team that
suddenly loses, due to the lack of experience. Enter Wisconsin a team that
is well coached and makes few mistakes. If that is not the perfect formula to end
the Wildcats dream I don't know what is. Meanwhile West Virginia will continue
its climb to the promise land as they dispatch New Mexico and edge Wisconsin
to reach the Final Four since Jerry West led the Mountaineers to the title game
in 1959.

South Regional
Overview
Someone on the NCAA Selection committee really wants to see Duke in the Final
Four, as they placed the Blue Devils in what is unquestionably the weakest region.
It could be the weakest overall region since the NCAA Tournament went to
64 teams. The #2 seed Villanova struggled at the end of the year, Baylor the #3
seed was picked to be at the bottom of the Big XII in the preseason, and though
the Bears had a great season and deserved to get a #3 they are not a legitimate
Final Four threat. Purdue the #4 seed could be a Final Four team, if Robbie
Hummel was healthy, but Hummel blew out his knee and the Boilermakers have not
been the same since. In fact look for Sienna who has scored upsets in each of
the last two tournaments to beat Purdue and reach the Sweet 16 as the South will
be the home of the underdog, as Utah State will stun Texas A&M in the first round.
Duke may face its toughest challenge in the second round against Louisville,
who should slip past California in the opener. However, in the end Duke will
edge Louisville to reach the Sweet 16. Notre Dame could also make a big run,
as they looked to be NIT bound early in the season only to turn up the gas and
close the season as one of the hottest teams in the Big East, as they reach the
Sweet 16 by beating Baylor. However, the true Cinderella will be the Gaels of
St. Mary's who have a strong International roster full of three point shooters
who will run amok over Richmond and stun struggling Villanova in the second round.

Regionals @ Houston, TX
Duke, Notre Dame, St. Mary's, Sienna
Just call it the Catholic Bracket
as Duke will find themselves as the overwhelming favorite in a regional with three
surprise teams with "god on their side". However, someone in the NCAA selection
committee really loves Duke, who has choked in the last few tournaments and
has not reached an Elite Eight in six years, despite being one of the top seeds
several times. The Blue Devils won a mediocre ACC this season and get the luxury
of a mediocre region and with three underdogs, it's impossible not to pick
them to reach the Final Four, though as they have in the last few years it won't
be a shock to see them slip up somewhere, and perhaps we could see Sienna or
St. Mary's emerge as this year's George Mason. However, look for the Gaels of
St. Mary's to be the Bell of the Ball as they reach the Elite Eight.

Final Four-Indianapolis, IN
Overview
Kansas, Kansas State, West Virginia, Duke
With their backcourt Kansas
State can beat just about anybody, except Kansas, who has handed the Wildcats three
of their seven losses. In each game K-State has played well, but the Jayhawks
have been just too strong. In the semifinal, which could be the best match
up of the Final Four it will be more of the same, as they have not been able to
solve Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich all season. The other semifinal between
West Virginia and Duke is a coin toss; in the end the Mountaineers who faced a
tougher test in the Big East will emerge victorious as Duke's flaws will be exposed.
The Final may end up being anti-climatic as Kansas the favorite all season
will have a tougher challenge against their rivals from Manhattan whom they
will need to beat for a fourth time to assure that will cut the nets down. However,
one thing to remember about Kansas them more than anyone has the pressure
of Championship of bust, but it's a burden they have earned because they are the
best and deepest team in the entire field, and they have been the best team all
season, and it is why Kansas will bring home their second title in three years.